Washington (CNN) - First lady Michelle Obama announced a new initiative at the White House on Wednesday to help end veteran homelessness across the country by the end of 2015.

The Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness is a call to action for mayors and other state and local leaders across the country to make a commitment to make sure all veterans in their communities have a roof over their heads.

CNN’s POLITICAL GUT CHECK | for June 4, 2014 | 5 p.m.
— n. a pause to assess the state, progress or condition of the political news cycle

MISSISSIPPI MUD: PRIMARY HEADED FOR RUNOFF: The race between longtime U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran and conservative challenger Chris McDaniel was too close to call early Wednesday. Both candidates appeared to be just short of the 50% threshold needed to avoid a runoff, making it hard to project a clear winner. If the numbers hold up and neither candidate gets more than half of the vote, Cochran and McDaniel will face off for a second time in a primary runoff on June 24. – Paul Steinhauser, Ashley Killough and Dana Bash

(CNN) - Chris Christie, the tough-talking Republican governor of New Jersey, got to show off his softer side Wednesday as he accepted an award for being "Father of the Year."

"I get recognized and criticized and praised for all kinds of other things. But the most important thing I get to do every day is to be a father to my four children," he said. "And it is the most lasting and important thing that I'll ever do with my life."

Then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the arrival ceremony for the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Vladivostok, Russia, September 8, 2012

Washington (CNN) – Russian President Vladimir Putin slammed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as someone who has "never been too graceful in her statements," according to the Kremlin transcript of an interview that aired on French TV and radio Wednesday.

After being asked about Clinton's recent tough rhetoric on Russia's foreign policy, Putin said, "It's better not to argue with women." He later characterized Clinton's comments as a sign of weakness, which is maybe "not the worst quality for a woman," he added.

Washington (CNN) – A grimacing President Barack Obama, photographed at his hotel gym in Poland lifting free weights and working out on an elliptical, wasn’t in any danger from the sneaky photographer, the Secret Service said Wednesday.

An official with the agency said pictures and video of Obama working out at the Marriott Hotel Warsaw did not constitute a security breach, since all people entering and exiting his hotel would have been screened for potentially dangerous items.

(CNN) - It's one of the biggest political questions in South Carolina right now: Will incumbent Lindsey Graham avoid a runoff in next Tuesday's Senate primary?

A survey released Wednesday indicates that the two-term Republican senator – who's facing off against six primary challengers – is just shy of the 50% he needs to win the contest outright. If Graham fails to top 50%, he would face off two weeks later against the second place finisher in the GOP primary.

Washington (CNN) - New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will campaign in New Hampshire this month for Walt Havenstein, a Republican running for his party's gubernatorial nomination, a New Hampshire GOP source tells CNN.

Christie is chairman of the Republican Governors Association, the fundraising and political organization charged with helping to elect GOP gubernatorial candidates.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - Erika Harold, a biracial, former Miss America-turned-Harvard Law School-educated attorney in her 30s, would seem to be the type of congressional candidate the Republican Party would break its neck to back in a race.

But, as she barnstormed across Illinois' 13th Congressional District in a maverick effort to defeat first-term incumbent Rep. Rodney Davis in March's primary, Harold came face-to-face with an extreme example of the types of challenges female GOP congressional hopefuls sometimes face.

Washington (CNN) - The group founded by former Rep. Gabby Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly to help push for changes in gun laws will continue trying to counter the efforts of the powerful National Rifle Association this election year.

Group officials announced they will focus on seven key Senate races and four House re-election contests that are expected to be close.FULL POST